On the cover Gimmie’s Countess’ victory under Serino Moodley in Saturday’s Baker McVeigh Gr3 Diana Stakes stamped her a classic prospect for the Dean Kannemeyer yard and their leading owners, Khaya Stables. The family has been a remarkable one for the longstanding partnership. She’s one for the notebook! Chase Liebenberg took the photograph.
COUP FOILED
It’s been four seasons in one day, some days, for the Cape in recent weeks and last Saturday’s racemeeting at Hollywoodbets Durbanville ended in tears from the sky again! Here Grant van Niekerk returns after winning the last race on Veronique for Greg Ennion. The daughter of Pathfork was a narrow winner to foil a betting coup on the well-backed Ticket To Vegas (Denis Schwarz), who came in from 6’s to 3’s. Weather wise, we can look forward to temperatures in the early 30’s at Hollywoodbets Durbanville on Saturday! Chase Liebenberg took the photograph.
NIGHT TIME, THE RIGHT TIME EVERY TIME!
Gold Circle hosted a most enjoyable day-night racemeeting last Friday evening at Hollywoodbets Greyville. Mother Nature contributed to the rare event, with concertina’d racemeetings in the pipleline. Sadly, we will have to wait until 13 and 20 December for the next Hollywoodbets Greyville night racing action. Candiese Lenferna took the photograph – but you knew that!
DEFENDER SPRINGS ATTACK ON TITLE DEFENCE
South Africa’s joint highest rated galloper, Main Defender (131) will make his season debut as he steps out to defend his title in Saturday’s R550 000 Betway Gr3 Joburg Spring Challenge at Turffontein.
The Tony Peter-trained Main Defender beat the subsequent Equus Champion Sprinter Thunderstruck by over 6 lengths in a dazzling victory last year and bang in-form Highveld rider Gavin Lerena takes the reins for the first time in the fourteen horse line-up.
Main Defender comes in here off a break of approximately nine weeks since beaten by Unzen in a Pinnacle Stakes at Turffontein on 27 July, but runs well fresh as he showed when winning this feature off a similar rest last term.
In the fairer sex equivalent, a capacity field of fourteen and one reserve was declared on Tuesday.
The R450 000 Betway Gr2 Joburg Spring F&M Challenge was won last year by Stuart Pettigrew’s Feather Boa who made such an eyecatching USA debut recently.
Feather Boa’s stablemate and 2023 runner-up Captain Peg (104) runs from a decent draw on Saturday,and she should strip fit after a smart pipe-opener third in the Betway The Lady’s Stakes recently.
The highest rated in the fillies and mares contest is Sean Tarry’s Let’s Go Now (114), whose form tapered negatively last term when tried over further.,
She comes in off a four month’s rest and is likely to need it. Her wide draw won’t be an asset either.
It is interesting to see that Sean Veale, who rides Stuart Ferrie’s KZN raider Gladatorian in the boys’ race, gets the chance here. How his prospects have improved this term!
Auguste Rodin – one last shout on Sunday | Credit: Candiese Lenferna
Aidan O’Brien is responsible for five of the 18 remaining entries for Sunday’s Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, with all of the market leaders standing their ground at Monday’s first forfeit stage.
In addition to his two most likely runners, Los Angeles and Continuous, O’Brien has left in Auguste Rodin, Opera Singer and Luxembourg for the Longchamp showpiece, while the Coolmore partners could also be represented by the Jean-Claude Rougettrained Delius.
City Of Troy and Ancient Wisdom, both 40-1 chances, were the shortest-priced entries to be taken out, while the David Menuisiertrained Sunway is the only British-based entry among the 18 at this stage, although Ralph Beckett and Juddmonte are giving serious consideration to adding Bluestocking to the field on Wednesday at the supplementary stage.
Sosie is favourite for Sunday’s race at a general 4-1 off the back of his defeat of Jockey Club winner Look De Vega, who is has been eclipsed with some firms by Japan’s Shin Emperor, who was a fastfinishing third to Economics in the Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes and will once again be partnered by Ryusei Saka.
Coral’s David Stevens said: “Sosie currently heads the betting for Sunday’s Arc following course and distance wins in the Grand Prix de Paris and Prix Niel, but in what is shaping up to be a wide-open renewal of this annual highlight, his position as favourite is far from guaranteed, with Shin Emperor now clear second-favourite as he bids to give Japan a first win in the race.”
Sosie is one of three chances for Andre Fabre to extend his record eight wins in the race, with Mqse De Sevigne set to tackle a mile and a half for the first time on what may be her final career start, while classy stayer Sevenna’s Knight
is also set to take his chance under Mickael Barzalona.
As retained rider to Alain and Gerard Wertheimer, Maxime Guyon still has a choice to make between Sosie and Prix Vermeille runnerup Aventure, although she also holds entries in the Prix de l’Opera and the Prix de Royallieu against her own sex.
In addition to the five Ballydoyle entries, Ireland will also field Al Riffa, who is set to be Yutaka Take’s 11th ride in the race and a first Arc runner for trainer Joseph O’Brien.
Arc-winning jockey Rene Piechulek will once again carry Germany’s hopes aboard Fantastic Moon, while further French strength comes in the shape of Zarakem and Survie – who finished second in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes and the Prix de Diane respectively – and Prix Ganay winner Haya Zark.
Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe: the remaining entries
Zarakem
– Haya Zark
– Fantastic Moon
– Al Riffa
– Sevenna’s Knight
– Auguste Rodin
Mqse De Sevigne
The ground at Longchamp on Tuesday remained very soft on the official French penetrometer scale, while on the GoingStick there is a combination of mostly soft with some good to soft in the straight. The outlook remains largely dry but lower overnight
temperatures towards the end of the week may slow any potential drying effect and the going is likely to remain on the easy side.
• www.racingpost.com
Paris Longchamp
LITTLE JOE HOPING FOR ARC FIRST
Joseph O’Brien is hoping that by taking a leaf out of the French playbook, his leading Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe candidate Al Riffa will be arriving at Longchamp a fresh horse.
The son of Wootton Bassett has been targeted at the Arc from the start of the season and O’Brien has deliberately only given him one start since he chased home City Of Troy in the Coral-Eclipse in early July.
The Racing Post reports that was a resounding victory in the Grosser Preis von Berlin on August 11, since when O’Brien has been able to give his first runner in the race a smooth preparation for Europe’s premier allaged middle-distance contest.
“We were very proud of that performance and he looked to really thrive for the extra distance,” O’Brien told a France Galop media conference. “His pedigree always suggested that he would enjoy the extra distance but it really did look like he was better for it.
“He pulled up well and this is a good race for the Arc and has been proven over many years that it prepares horses well for it. We think it’s a good opportunity to go from there and to the Arc as a fresh horse.”
Recent winners of the Hoppegarten Group 1 have included Torquator Tasso and Alpinista, both of whom won the Arc 13 months later, while Marienbard (2002) and Danedream (2011) completed the double in the same year.
Asked if keeping Al Riffa fresh for the autumn had been part of a long-term strategy which began in April with an early sighter of
Longchamp in the Prix Ganay, O’Brien said: “He had a busy first half of the season and that was why we went to Germany and the decision was made to freshen him up and then roll straight into the Arc.
“Obviously it is a help to have had experience of running at the track before but I guess it will be a much different test over a longer distance and with the ground a little bit softer. But it’s certainly not a disadvantage.”
O’Brien added: “The Arc is undoubtedly one of the biggest races in the world and it’s special to even have a runner in the race, one that has a live chance. We’re looking forward to the experience and the raceday and it would be hugely special and right up there with any of my days in racing if he were to win.”
While support has begun to come for Look De Vega after jockey Ronan Thomas enthused over his recent work, Al Riffa has been solid in the market and is quoted at prices ranging from 8-1 to 11-1.
Al Riffa, who will be an 11th ride in the race for Japanese legend Yutaka Take, was among the 18 remaining entries who all went forward after Tuesday’s second forfeit stage.
Any supplemented horses – including potentially Bluestocking – will be announced today as we go to publication.
THE ARC OF INTENSE RACING
The blue-riband of European horseracing, the Qatar Prix de L’Arc de Triomphe takes place on Sunday afternoon at Longchamp.
CAndre Fabre attempts a record extending ninth success with ante-post favourite, a three-year-old colt by Sea
The Stars called Sosie. The multiple French champion trainer’s Arc victories include the likes of Peintre Celebre in 1997, and who could forget the finishing run of his 2005 hero Hurricane Run.
The 2005 running brought together the winners all three Derby’s as well as some of the best of the older brigade. Derby winner Motivator, Hurricane Run, the winner of the Irish
equivalent and Scorpion, who won the Grand Prix de Paris after chasing home Hurricane Run at the Curragh.
There were 15 in all with the previous year’s winner Bago back to defend. The fillies were also well represented by the Irish Oaks and Prix Vermeille winner Shawanda and the Prix Foy winner, Pride.
Pacemakers for Shawanda ensured a truly run contest in soft conditions and Hurricane Run stamped himself as the best middle-distance
The iconic Arc will be run on Sunday | Credit: Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe 2024
colt in Europe with an easy two-length win. However, it was the manner of his victory that will always be remembered as one of the truly eventful renewals.
Hurricane Run turned for home among the backmarkers, being niggled along by Kieren Fallon. Making his run down the inside, he enjoyed a relatively clear passage and quickened impressively.
Switched inside Motivator a furlong out, Hurricane Run cut down the leader Westerner and won going away in style, becoming the world’s top-ranked horse according to the World Thoroughbred Racehorse Rankings.
Sosie’s sire Sea The Stars won four years later and confirmed himself one of the all-time greats.
One of 19 runners in the 2009 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe – his sixth Group One start in as many months, he achieved a feat no other horse has ever matched. He started a shortpriced favourite on account of victories in the
2000 Guineas, Derby, Eclipse, Juddmonte International and Irish Champion Stakes.
The opposition numbered eight other Group One winners, including Irish Derby winner Fame And Glory and the King George winner Conduit.
The race itself was far from plain sailing and Sea The Stars deserved credit for how he overcame a less-than-ideal run, with Mick Kinane having to restrain him about halfway down the field.
He still had a bit to do on the turn into the straight, looking in danger of not getting a run down the inside on very soft ground. He had to shift out to pass the weakening pacemakers before quickening between the leaders to assert a furlong out, ultimately well on top at the finish.
Sea The Stars showed his class to land the spoils by two lengths from Youmzain earning the highest Timeform rating for the race this century.
SOSIE CAN SHINE BRIGHT AS A STAR ON SUNDAY
In 2009, Sea The Stars (Cape Cross) won the Gr1 Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in impressive fashion. Despite racing keen early on and appearing boxed in, the bay surged to his sixth Group One win when landing the 2009 Arc by two lengths.
This Sunday, Sea The Stars, this time as a sire and grandsire, will once again look to make his mark on the Prix de l’ Arc de Triomphe. The once beaten champion, whose legendary dam Urban Sea (Miswaki) won the Arc in 1993, has enjoyed plenty of success as a sire, with Sea The Stars having produced more than 130 stakes winners thus far, of which 22 are Grade/ Group One winners.
However, Sea The Stars is yet to produce an Arc winner - his half-brother Galileo having already supplied two Arc winners namely Found and Waldgeist.
Sea The Stars’ daughter Sea Of Class appeared an unlucky loser of the 2018 Arc when storming home to finish a close second to Enable (Nathaniel), while Sea The Stars’ son
Cloth Of Stars ran second to Enable in the 2017 Arc before finishing third, behind Enable and Sea Of Class, the following year.
Sea The Stars could well make his presence felt in Sunday’s renewal. His top-class three-year-old son Sosie ranks as a leading contender for the Arc, having won both the G1 Grand Prix De Paris and G2 Prix Niel this season.
Other potential Arc runners for Sea The Stars this year include Emily Upjohn, Internaute, and Aventure.
Sea The Stars could also make his mark through his sire son Sea The Moon, with the once beaten Gr1 Deutsches Derby winner sire of 2024 Arc hopeful Fantastic Moon. Winner of the 2023 Gr1 Deutsches Derby and Gr2 Prix Niel, Fantastic Moon captured the Gr1 Grosser Preis Von Baden last time out to take his tally of wins to seven.
Sea The Stars’ half-brother Galileo could add further prestige to their dam Urban Sea’s remarkable record on Sunday, with the late Coolmore legend grandsire or broodmare sire of probable Arc contenders Al Riffa (out of the Galileo mare Love On My Mind), Shin Emperor (out of the Galileo mare Starlet’s Sister), Delius (by Galileo’s son Frankel), and Continuous (out of the Galileo mare Fluff).
Sunday could be another memorable day for Sea The Stars, with the champion son of Cape Cross represented in a number of Group One races at ParisLongchamp on the day.
It has been another wonderful year for Sea The Stars in 2024, whose flagbearers this year include the aforementioned Sosie, as well as such group/graded stakes winners as Al Aasy (Gr3 Coral Glorious Stakes, Gr3 BetVictor Geoffrey Freer Stakes), Aventure (Gr2 Prix de Pomone, Gr3 Prix de Royaumont), Bellum Justum (Gr3 DK Horse Nashville Derby Invitational Stakes), Hanalia (Gr2 Moyglare “Jewels” Blandford Stakes), See The Fire (Gr3 Sky Bet Strensall Stakes), Sweet William (Gr2 Betfred Howard Wright Doncaster Cup Stakes, Gr3 Chasemore Farm Henry II Stakes).
Sea The Stars is also the sire of unbeaten twoyear-old The Lion In Winter, who currently rates as the favourite for next year’s 2000 Guineas and Betfred Derby.
Unbeaten in two starts, The Lion In Winter broke the two-year-old course record at York when victorious in the Gr3 Tattersalls Acomb Stakes earlier this year, (Acomb runner up Wimbledon Hawkeye (Kameko), who is out of the Sea The Stars mare Eva Maria, franked the form when he won the Gr2 Juddmonte Royal Lodge Stakes on Saturday).
The Lion In Winter and Sweet William provide further proof of Sea The Stars’ versatility as a stallion, with The Lion In Winter’s Acomb Stakes win coming over seven furlongs and Sweet William landing the Doncaster Cup over two miles and two furlongs.
Questioning (JP van der Merwe) beats the gutsy Montien under Anthony Andrews. Corne Orffer on Outlaw King can be seen further back | Credit: Chase Liebenberg
Milnerton veteran Vaughan Marshall saddled champion Captain Al to win the Matchem Stakes under Jeff Lloyd in 1999 and saddled his fifth winner of the race in the 21st century when the consistent Questioning romped home at a cloudy Hollywoodbets Durbanville on Saturday.
MrMarshall saddled Play Catch (2004), Tales Of Bravery (2010), One World (2019) and Seeking The Stars (2021) prior to Saturday to lift the Matchem trophy and time will tell where the 2023 Gr3 Cape Classic winner Questioning fits into the pecking order of the top stable’s honours boards.
Other than the beautiful carpets of flowers alongside the road en route to the chilly country course, there was little evidence of spring as isolated drops of rain fell from the steel grey skies as the start of the 2024th renewal of the R300 000 Kuda Gr3 Matchem Stakes was effected.
Montien set the early gallop with stablemates Coastal Commander and Questioning next best. The run for home was a stampede, but the Winx-sponsored JP van der Merwe made no mistakes as he showed the benefit of the experience of a winning ride last time on the 4yo gelding.
Questioning (9-4) ran on well to beat the gutsy Montien (16-1) by a half-length in a time
of 84,11 secs – slower than the 83,98 secs clocked by Gimme’s Countess carrying 10kgs less in the fairer sex feature a half hour earlier.
At My Command (5-2) ran on well for third, while Dean Kannemeyer will be thrilled with the excellent effort of the year-rested Gimme A Prince (9-2) who flashed up late for fourth. Both third and fourth raced in the Khaya flag.
A Foster family home-bred, Questioning is out of the twice winning Captain Al mare Wheredowego, who raced in the same silks for Vaughan Marshall.
Raced by a partnership of Greg Bortz, Mukund Gujadhur (who was on course from Mauritius and enjoyed two winners on the afternoon), Jarryd and Laurence Wernars & Gina Goldsmith, Questioning is a half-brother to the accomplished stakes winning stayer Senso Unico, who also races out of the top Milnerton yard.
Questioning has won 6 of his 12 starts with 5 places for stakes of R798 125.
THE SPRINT IS INTERACTIVE
THE ONE FOR RACE REPLAY
‘Kuda Matchem winner Questioning is living proof that the incomparable taproot mare Drohsky continues to exert her influence on South African racing’
QUERARI
– LIFE’S SO COOL IN THE SHADE!
That Querari has served Maine Chance with distinction over the past decade was underlined this past weekend at Hollywoodbets Durbanville, where he celebrated a onethree in the Gr3 Matchem Stakes, victory going to Questioning and third place to another son, the multiple Gr1-placed At My Command.
Querari has always found himself overshadowed by barn mates Silvano and Vercingetorix, yet has proven himself a fine stallion in his own right.
A profound influence for precocity, the German-bred is the complete antitheses of the stoutness that country is renowned for.
Notwithstanding the fact that Querari never raced at two and that his best racetrack efforts
were over 2000m, his progeny tend to show the toe his sire line is renowned for. In fact, he has headed the juvenile sires list on two occasions (2019 and 2022), no surprise, since his sire Oasis Dream is a renowned speed influence, as is his grandsire Green Desert. Also, his grandam Quebrada was a champion juvenile and was sired by Devil’s Bag, an undefeated juvenile who was voted America’s champion 2YO after winning all five starts, including the Gr1 Laurel Futurity in track record time.
Majestic Querari – a son of Oasis Dream out of the Acatenango mare, Quetena | Credit: Freemanstallions
The sire of 43 stakes winners to date, Querari’s progeny are ideally suited to the South African racing programme with its emphasis on speed. To that end, he has sired champion sprinter Rio Querari, who despite physical problems, captured the Gr1 Computaform Sprint, Gr2 Post Merchants winner Kangaroo Jack and Pinnacle Peak, who claimed the Gr3 Man O’War Sprint.
However, for all the speed he imparts, he is also a dab hand with milers, as proven by his other Gr1 winners, the fillies Querari Falcon and Bavarian Beauty, both of which scored their signature wins in the Thekwini Stakes. Then there are Gr2 Dingaans winner Monks Hood, Head Honcho, who won the Gr2 Premier Trophy, and Gr3 Cup Trial winner Campari Kampala. He has even managed to sire a champion stayer in last season’s Gold Cup winner Master Redoute!
The Matchem was a second Gr3 success for Questioning, given that he had opened his stakes account at three in the Gr3 Cape Classic over the same 1400m trip.
That was an auspicious effort, as he was followed across the line by subsequent Gr1 Cape Guineas winner Snow Pilot and Green With Envy, whose Gr1 Cape Derby/Daily News 2000 double earned him the coveted title of Champion 3YO colt.
After failing to stay the Guineas trip, Questioning reverted to sprint distances and to great effect, his Matchem victory coming off two wins and three places in as many starts.
The four-year-old is yet another feather in the cap of veteran owner Alec Foster, who bred him from the Captain Al mare Wheredowego.
On the track, her finest moment came in the Gr3 Kenilworth Fillies Nursery, where she asserted her authority by three-quarters of a length. As a broodmare, she has come up trumps with her first four foals. In addition to Questioning, she has produced Settlers Trophy winner Senso Unico to Twice Over, Gr2 Fillies Guineas third Labyrinth to Oratorio, and the sixtime winning Gimmethegreenlight filly Golightly. Her next two foals are also fillies, a juvenile by Vercingetorix and a yearling by What A Winter.
Wheredowego was bred at Dr Bennie van der Merwe’s Moutonshoek and like both her son and sire Captain Al, was trained by Vaughan Marshall. Her dam, the Fort Wood mare Pin Number, is a winning full sister to Gr1 SA Derby and Gr2 Gold Circle Derby third Service Ace, while National Assembly half-brother Flight Alert won the Gr1 Cape Guineas.
Grandam Beltel, a daughter of Bush Telegraph, showed little on the track but counts amongst her siblings the champion sprinter Senor Santa, Gr2 Natalia Stakes victress Magic Model and the stakes winners Rock-Candy and Above The Law.
For what it’s worth, Questioning is living proof that the incomparable taproot mare Drohsky continues to exert her influence on South African racing. He traces to her winning daughter Lindro, who did her bit to maintain family honours. In addition to Questioning and his immediate relatives, she is also ancestress of notable Gr1 winners Night Bird, Majestic Crown, Distinctly, Wagga Wagga and Yamani.
Querari stands at Maine Chance Farms for a 2024 fee of R45 000.
WORLD SPORTS BETTING MET STAKE UPPED & COUTURE UNLEASHED
Credit: Chase Liebenberg
The World Sports Betting Cape Town MET returns on Saturday, 25 January 2025 with an increased stake of R5 million, and horseracing enthusiasts and fashionistas can officially get a head start on their preparations to dazzle and defy fashion convention with the official unveiling of the event’s theme – Couture Unleashed.
The iconic annual event, now in its 163rd year, is a much-anticipated fixture on the country’s racing calendar, drawing both sports fans and social butterflies to the recently upgraded Hollywoodbets Kenilworth property.
“With this daring theme, we expect racegoers to look beyond the runway and clothing rack and truly express their creative vision. We are excited to see big and wild interpretations that blend art, technology and couture,” says
Cape Racing COO, Donovan Everitt. Steeped in history, the prestigious World Sports Betting Cape Town MET is the highlight of the Cape Summer Festival of Racing, where some of SA’s top thoroughbreds will show off their stamina and skill.
The Cape Summer Festival of Racing kicks off on 23 November, includes eight festival days – including the MET – and will also introduce a Summer Music Festival series.
The 25 January event will once again showcase the very best horseracing action with a number of thrilling races on the card, including the 2000m World Sports Betting Gr1 Cape Town MET with its R5 million stake – a significant increase from the R2 million stake in 2024.
The 2024 race saw DOUBLE SUPERLATIVE win under visiting British jockey, Daniel Muscutt, to score a 33/1 upset.
“In addition to heart-stopping racing, the event will also showcase spectacular hospitality experiences, exciting activations, high-fashion, big name DJs and world-class entertainment, and after the last race, the venue will transform into a party for the ages” adds Everitt. “This is the city’s social event of the season, we are pulling out all the stops to make the 2025 edition of the MET the best one yet, and
everyone is invited to join us and keep the festivities going until well into the night.”
Says World Sports Betting COO Ryno Du Plessis, “As the 2025 World Sports Betting Cape Town MET returns, a new era of elegance takes centre stage. With the theme Couture Unleashed, horseracing enthusiasts and fashion mavens are invited to break free from tradition, redefining luxury with daring style and unparalleled creativity.”
World Sports Betting Cape Town MET takes place on 25 January 2025. A variety of ticket package options will be available to suit every budget and guest. Tickets will go on sale via Quicket from early October.
• Media release by Cape Racing on Thursday, 26 September 2024.
The exciting Gimmie’s Countess wins readily under Serino Moodley. A big season lies ahead! | Credit: Chase Liebenberg
KANNEMEYER, KHAYA AND THE COUNTESS
Dean Kannemeyer and his leading patron Lady Christine Laidlaw have plenty to look forward to in the Summer Of Champions Season that lies ahead.
After Drakenstein’s Little Suzie put her Cape Fillies Guineas hand up last week, the Khaya Stables team have another rocket headed in that direction in the shape of the Gimmethegreenlight filly Gimmie’s Countess who caught the eye with a dazzling late effort to win the R200 000 Baker McVeigh Gr3 Diana Stakes at Hollywoodbets Durbanville on Saturday.
Having her first run in her home province after three promising starts in KZN, Gimmie’s Countess came off a 12-week break and showed that she really had no luck when flying late in the Gr1 Allan Robertson Championship at her second jump, getting her big reputation back on track with a scintillating effort under KZN rider, Serino Moodley.
After Kotzen’s long rested Royals set the gallop, Moodley had Gimmie’s Countess settled back of midfield, but seemed to lose position as she turned for home in her first competition at the generally tighter country course.
But the Winning Form jockey was under instructions not to panic and he started making up ground on the talented 3yo at around the 300m.
Going into the final stages, Gimmie’s Countess (17-10) was going best of all and she went on to beat the year older Summer Lily (5-1) going away by a length in a time of 83,98 secs for the 1400m,
The consistent Princess Izzy (7-2) stayed on for third, a further 1,25 lengths ack in third.
Gimme’s Countess hails from a Grade 1 family that has served the Khaya-Kannemeyer partnership with distinction and she looks set to continue the tradition.
Bred by Khaya Stables and raised at the beautiful Varsfontein Stud in Paarl, the winner is by champion Gimmethegreenlight (More Than Ready) ex Gr1 winner Real Princess (Trippi). The Klawervlei Stud-bred Real Princess was the highest priced filly at the Cape Premier Yearling Sale of 2013, fetching R2,7 million.
Real Princess was the first foal of Pagan Princess and won the Gr 1 SA Fillies Sprint for Dean Kannemeyer and Lady Christine Laidlaw. She was out of Pagan Princess, who was one of Klawervlei’s best broodmares.
Pagan Princess was only a one-time winner, but she was by champion stallion Fort Wood and was a half-sister to the Al Mufti superstar Victory Moon. Pagan Princess lived up to her superb pedigree by producing the goods at stud.
Gimmie’s Countess has now won 2 races with a place from 4 starts for stakes of R240 625.
THE SPRINT IS INTERACTIVE
MUZI SET FOR SINGAPORE FINALE
SOUTH AFRICAN JOCKEY LOG LEADER MUZI YENI HAS BEEN GRANTED A ONE-DAY VISITING JOCKEY’S LICENCE TO RIDE AT THE GR1 GRAND SINGAPORE GOLD CUP MEETING ON SATURDAY, 5 OCTOBER.
Yeni will take the reins on the David Kok-trained Smart Star in the iconic handicap feature race run over 2000m.
The 37-year-old Durban-born jockey rode in Singapore six years ago at two meetings, including the inaugural Premier Gateway International Jockeys Challenge at Kranji. His best results were one second and one third from 12 rides.
Yeni graduated from the South African Jockey
Academy in 2003 and opened his account in the same year. He became a fully-fledged jockey in the 2007/2008 season and has since been recognised as one of the best jockeys in South Africa. The pocket dynamo has won the Northern Cape championship 11 times, the Eastern Cape title twice and the Highveld championship once.
In 21 years of riding, Yeni has chalked up more than 2000 wins, including 16 Group 1 wins and 35 Group 2 and Group 3 wins.
Muzi Yeni – winging his way to Singapore | Credit: JC Photos
His first Group 1 victory came in the 2011 President’s Champions Challenge on board outsider Happy Landing at Turffontein, before going on to win the same race three more times in 2018, 2021 and 2024, when he scored aboard Royal Victory.
His latest and second Gr1 win this year was atop subsequent SA Horse Of The Year Dave The King in the Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge in June.
Yeni has also ridden in Brazil, Greece, Macau, Mauritius and South Korea. He is currently ranked first on the South African jockeys’ premiership at 49 wins. He goes to scale at 50kgs.
The Sporting Post was informed that two other SA-born jockeys may also be making the journey to Singapore to mark the final racemeeting in the Lion City’s 180 year -long history. This will be confirmed in due course.
Witness Stand (GB) wins the Listed Dubai Duty Free Cup Stakes
20 Sep ‘24 - 3yo WITNESS STAND (Expert Eye) wins the Dubai Duty Free Cup S. (Listed) (above) at Newbury (GB) by 3 lenghts over 1400m, on soft ground.
19 Sep ‘24 - 2yo EVE’S BOY (Expert Eye) won the British Stallion Studs EBF Novice S. at Ayr (GB) by 2 lengths over 1400m, on good ground.
17 Sep ‘24 - 2yo NAINA (Expert Eye) won the Download The Raceday Ready App Nursery H. at Yarmouth (GB) by 1,25 lengths over 1400m, on good ground. NAINA has won 3 of her last 4 starts.
17 Sep ‘24 - 4yo SNIPER’S EYE (Expert Eye) won the SPP - That Get You Noticed H. at Yarmouth (GB) by a head over 2000m, on good ground.
12 Sep ‘24 - 2yo NESTHORN (Expert Eye), 2nd Prix des Chenes (Group 3) at Longchamp (FR) over 1600m, on soft ground.
6 Sep ‘24 - 2yo EXPOSURE (Expert Eye) won the Prix Kendor (ON DEBUT) at SaintCloud (FR) by 1,25 lengths over 1600m, on soft ground.
Witness Stand (GB)
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GAVIN AND STRIKER DOMINATE
Multiple champion trainer Mike de Kock saddled a double at Turffontein on Saturday and conceded that he can’t ride a bicycle at the age of 60. That said, the master conditioner was full of praise for Piere Strydom’s performance to win on Wolf Mountain.
“This was a great ride from Piere Strydom, who is still riding horses at 58. I can’t ride a bicycle at 60! It was a ride apprentices should be watching over and over. Also, nice to train a winner by Buffalo Bill Cody, a good sire!”
enthused De Kock, who shared the training honours on the day with Sean Tarry, who sadly lost his dear Mother earlier in the week.
The Strydom winner that caught De Kock’s eye was Wolf Mountain, who won the sixth in the silks of the ASSM Racing Syndicate, who are enjoying a great season.
Strydom said that the inside draw is ‘deadly’ on the inside track.
“It’s worth two to three lengths. We were there for nothing. Thanks for the good recent rides to ASSM. I was ready to retire before they came along.”
Strydom has ridden 15 winners this term, with a win strike-rate of 28,85%. This was his second consecutive Saturday treble!
Piere Strydom has Wolf Mountain in control as Trent Mayhew chases on Theres A Light | Credit: JC Photos
Between them Striker and Gavin Lerena have won the SA Jockey Championship title eight times and the duo dominated matters on Saturday, riding seven of the nine winners – the hard-working Marco van Rensburg and logleading Muzi Yeni the only other jockeys to earn a winner commission.
Lerena, who is a relative spring chicken at 39 years old, took his tally to 33 winners (25,6%) for the season, and is in second place behind Yeni. Lerena capped a genuine hat-trick when he won the third on the Fire Away filly Fireburst,
the first of the De Kock double.
“She got a bump on the bend last time and lost her momentum. This was a good win, she is still weak and will make improvement.” A delighted De Kock said that the form of her last race worked out. “She is beautifully bred. Always lovely to train winners for friends.”
The Highveld Spring Season kicks into top gear on Saturday with the Gr2 double feature of the Betway Joburg Spring Challenge and the Betway Joburg Spring F&M Challenge.
THE SPRINT IS INTERACTIVE
Gavin Lerena shows his delight with a high four! | Credit: JC Photos
PROUD PREGGIE CELEBRATES A SUPER SUNDAY
Queen Amina (Craig Zackey) hacks up to win her maiden| Credit: Candiese Lenferna
Just when longstanding KZN owner Preggie Somasundram was enjoying a perfect balance between horseracing and life, the sport of kings grabbed him and touched his heart again at Hollywoodbets Greyville last Sunday.
The charismatic Preggie enjoyed a memorable family double with his own debutante Regeneration winning the opener, and his daughter Kundanika celebrating her personal first winner, courtesy of Queen Amina in the third.
Both winners are trained by Robbie Hill at Summerveld.
“This game is amazing, isn’t it? Just when we are cool and relaxed and ticking over nicely, it dishes us a beautiful day like Sunday!” enthused the Grade 1-winning owner, who less than a year ago decided to scale down and rationalize his then large string for a variety of, what he said at the time to be, management and mathematical challenges in the sport.
But things are slowly getting better every day in many respects and, pragmatism aside, when it comes to raw passion, Preggie has clearly not lost an ounce of the dreamer’s disease that has seen him spend north of R60 million for keep and associated costs – that’s capital outlay excluded – in just over two decades in the game.
First-timer Regeneration, a Varsfontein Studbred daughter of Danon Platina blew out on the betting boards from 4’s to 12’s in the opener, while Preggie’s daughter’s first winner Queen Amina started at 16-1 when shedding her maiden at her third start in the third race.
The Somasundram pair cost a combined R110 000 at sale and gave Dad and Daughter a rare owners’ moment when it comes to everyday racing.
“I asked Robbie (Hill) if we could have a serious bet. You know trainers. We are dealing with flesh and blood and nobody wants to see you burn your fingers. So he was understandably
cautious. Maybe she needed another gallop. Maybe she needed another few weeks. It’s easy for all of us to be clever afterwards. But, despite the should’ve’s and would’ves, what a day! I’m just so glad and thrilled that Kundanika was able to enjoy her first winner so soon and with the whole family here. The unbridled joy on their faces was amazing to watch. And all the guys in our office were on the double too – some of them got 200 to 1 plus. So there were a number of big winners created in the process. That’s good for racing,” enthused Preggie as he proudly encouraged us to contact South Africa’s youngest newest racehorse owner – his daughter, Kundanika.
Clearly the apple hasn’t fallen far from the tree and talking to the Sporting Post on Monday, the delighted 22 year old, an honours student studying Strategic Business Management at Vega University, and who also works for Dad, bubbled over with joy, admitting that she was now probably ‘hooked for life’.
Clearly with her feet firmly planted on Mother Earth, Preggie’s only daughter told us about her first horse, a decidedly slow but cuddly Heavenly Blue gelding named Crystal Blue. She adds euphemistically that he ‘didn’t really have an appetite for racing’ and has been moved on to more sedentary disciplines.
“Queen Amina is my second horse. How lucky am I? Watching her take the gap and power home under Craig Zackey on Sunday was a timeless and surreal moment for me. Actually, when they jumped out of the starting stalls I stopped breathing. And I only started breathing again when I began screaming in those last few strides. Since I was a baby, my Dad has been crazy about this sport. I have always absolutely loved horses too. But after Sunday I now understand more than ever what has kept him coming back. It’s just plain amazing. Words elude me,” she said as she went on to
A delighted Kundanika Somasundram chats to Warren Lenferna after the big win| Credit: Candiese Lenferna
tell a funny story as to what her thoughts were as she prepared to leave for the races with her family on Sunday morning.
“I thought, let me wear a nice bright pink dress to go with my neon pink and orange racing silks. Then I stopped myself in my tracks and pondered how I was going to make myself look silly if we didn’t win. So I thought low-profile was better and threw on a jeans and an ordinary top. I thus lost out on the ‘confident owner wearing her racing silks once-in-a-lifetime moment’ photograph to show my Grandchildren one day. But hey, I’m not complaining!” she laughed.
Asked about the origin of her,with all due respect, quite ‘gaudy’ racing colours, Kundanika defends the choice with typical ‘Strategic Business Management’ type logic.
“One of the course photographers Anneke Akal Kitching and I were chatting about the significance of racing silks one day, a long time before I had made my personal selection. I never forget Anneke suggesting to me that they had to be sort of bright, and almost atrocious, for want of a better word. So ideally something uncoordinated and what we’d probably never wear ordinarily. Now you can understand why neon pink and orange seemed sensible to me. And I didn’t need a binoculars either on Sunday to watch Queen Amina the whole way around!”
Queen Amina, who was named by Kundanika after a warrior and ruler of Zaria, a Hausa city-state in what is now Northern Nigeria, has defied the statistics and outpaced her KZN Yearling Sale purchase price of R30 000 at this stage of the game.
Asked if she had been something of a giveaway at the price, delighted winning breeder Jonathan Martin of Hadlow Stud, who bred the 3yo in partnership with his wife Cathy,
congratulated Kundanika and wished her many more wins. He then went on to explain to the Sporting Post that sales prices were in the swings and roundabouts of their world, and that they were in the business of breeding, and not training or racing horses. He added that Queen Amina was also out of an unproven unraced mare.
“Robbie Hill has an astute eye for a nice horse and she may have been on his short-list. She was very immature and leggy at sale, but really did have everything in the right place. We are just so thrilled for the Somasundram family and we shall follow her progress with interest. We hope that she trains on as would seem likely to be the case! It’s just a good story of a young mare and a young owner whose paths crossed to share a special winning moment. Our beautiful mare Book Of Verses (Master Of My Fate) is due to foal down any day now to Chimichuri Run. So it’s all hopefully all coming together,” added the veteran breeder.
While she has made racehorse ownership probably look a tad easier than it should be, and that in double-quick time, Kundanika says that sharing the momentous day with Dad Preggie, Mum Indira and her younger brother Thaylen was something that would stay with her forever.
“Perfect is the only way of summing it up! And I have watched the replay over and over and over again. And Queen Amina wins every time!” she laughs.
THE SPRINT IS INTERACTIVE
ENJOY QUEEN AMINA’S VICTORY AT HOLLYWOODBETS GREYVILLE ON SUNDAY.
WOODHILL’S KING EYES THE CROWN
Glen Kotzen’s very consistent 5yo gelding King Regent looks ready to bank the R250 000 bonus and claim top honours in the 2024 Nelson Mandela Bay Racing Poly Challenge Triple Crown on 18 October, after storming home from last into the straight to win the 1400m second leg at Fairview on Friday.
Winning jockey Denis Schwarz kept labelling his mount a ‘good sprinter’ but we have recorded previously that King Regent is a full-brother to a Gold Bowl and Consolation Durban July winner in 7yo Crimson King, and he is bound to return in October to put the cherry on the top of the challenge and try the mile for the first time.
He has a fourth in an 1800m Grade 3 race to his credit – and ridden the way Schwarz has perfected, he could probably go 2000m.
Slightly slow off on Friday, Denis Schwarz, who has built a good rapport with the son of Dynasty, played a confidence rich waiting game, dawdling in last position all the way around.
Denis Schwarz has King Regent in full cry as Richard Fourie (black/green cap) tries to spoil the party on Luna Halo | Credit: Pauline Herman
Switched wide in the run for home, King Regent (11-10) lengthened impressively and gobbled up the ground to hold off the talented local Luna Halo (8-1), who gave some cheek late.
King Regent clocked 81,61 secs for the 1400m and the winning margin was a half-length.
Justin Snaith’s Silver Falcon (7-2) was1,25 lengths back in third.
Now a winner of R1 184 188 with 6 wins and 7 places from his 16 starts, King Regent is raced by longstanding former UK and now Cape residents Martin Wickens and Gisela Burg, and cost R225 000 at the Cape Yearling sale of his year.
Bred by Ridgemont, the winner is a son of the farm’s late iconic sire Dynasty (Fort Wood)
out of the three-time winning Mogok mare, Cup Of Rubies.
The Woodhill Racing Team under the management of Kuyan Kotzen and Chad Little enjoyed a double on the day with Denis Schwarz after recent maiden winner On My Honour made it 2 wins from 3 starts when winning the fourth race for Eugene and Sandy Arundel’s Itssa It & Business Solutions.
The third and final leg of the triple crown is the R175 000 Nelson Mandela Bay Racing Poly Challenge 1600 to be run on 18 October. King Regent looks hard to beat.
The next Fairview racemeeting has been carded for Friday, with the Betway Cradock Place Stakes featuring as the main even on the eight-race programme.
T BLOODSTOCK SOUTH AFRICA
CAPE YEARLING SALE 2025
he Bloodstock South Africa Cape Yearling Sale has been a regional sale recently held in the Western Cape at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth Racecourse creating a competitive platform for both vendors and buyers.
This sale has progressed over the past 3 years reflecting an Aggregate Turnover growing 21% to R27,3m, the Average Sale Price increased 33% to R206,000 and the Sale Median Price exceeded expectations with an increase of 64% to R180,000 over the past 3 years.
Sadly, due to the unavailability of Hollywoodbets Kenilworth, Bloodstock South Africa have had to source an alternate venue to continue the momentum of their Cape Yearling Sale to be held on Sunday 23 February 2025.
Bloodstock South Africa are proud to announce the start of a partnership with The South African Riding for the Disabled Association (SARDA) and the Constantia Valley Riding Club who are based at the SARDA Centre in Brommersvlei Road, Constantia Heights, 6km from Hollywoodbets Kenilworth.
The beautiful Cape | Credit: Romi Bettison
SARDA is a non-profit organization that has been in existence for more than 50 years and offers free equine therapy through horse riding to children and adults living with intellectual and physical disabilities to improve their physical and social wellbeing and learning abilities.
These horse-riding classes are run by trained and certified RDA instructors who are assisted by a group of instructors and a team of volunteers.
SARDA is also a registered member of Horses in Education and Therapy International (HETI).
For more information, you can visit the SARDA website at www.sarda.co.za/
“Bloodstock South Africa are excited to be
partnering with such a giving organization and will be supporting SARDA where possible in upgrading their facilities and expanding their programmes.
All the existing sale related facilities will be easily accommodated at the SARDA Centre and Bloodstock South Africa look forward to hosting vendors and buyers at their Cape Yearling Sale on 23 February 2025,” said Michael Holmes, Chief Executive Officer of Bloodstock South Africa.
The venues for the other Bloodstock
South Africa 2025 sales will remain as published on the website and the details can be found at www.bsa.
co.za Enquiries can be directed to the Bloodstock South Africa team.
TCO2 ON RACEDAY
– NEW PROCESS FROM 1 OCTOBER 2024
The National Horseracing Authority has published an update on the Total Carbon Dioxide (TCO2) analysis conducted on race days.
The media release states that in furtherance of the protocols and collection procedures referred to in the NHA’s press release of 28 June 2024, the NHA has carried out TCO2 nationwide testing spanning numerous race meetings.
Between 29 June 2024 and 29 September 2024, 2 772 TCO2 analyses were administered on 2 482 horses.
Of these, 274 horses (11%) tested above 35 mmol/L, as a result of which, was subjected to a second test on the expiry of no less
than 10 minutes post the first test, with 16 horses (0.6%) being withdrawn from races due to elevated TCO2 levels, i.e. levels on such second test exceeding 37 mmol/L.
From 6 April 2024 to 29 September 2024, a total of 4 998 TCO2 analyses were administered on 4 509 horses.
During this period, 57 horses (1.3%) were withdrawn from their respective races, which include 3 horses scratched on more than one occasion.
The remaining 4 452 runners had TCO2 levels with an overall mean of 33.1 mmol/L and a standard deviation of 1.7 mmol/L. In a normally distributed population, this suggests that 68% of horses will have a TCO2 level between 31.4 and 34.8 mmol/L, 95% will range between 29.7 and 36.5 mmol/L, and 99.7% will fall between 28 and 38.2 mmol/L. These results are consistent with data communicated on 28 June 2024.
To reduce the number of horses requiring a second test, and in an effort to ensure that the above 99.7% normal population of horses is catered for, the following new specimen collection procedures for TCO2 analysis will be implemented on race days, with effect from 1 October 2024:
1. TRAINERS will, prior thereto, be notified of the HORSES selected for pre-race TCO2 testing and ANALYSIS.
2. A blood SPECIMEN will be collected from each selected HORSE approximately 60 minutes prior to the published RACE time. Immediate ANALYSIS will be performed by means of an NHA approved handheld blood gas analyser “the first test”.
3. Where such ANALYSIS shows that a HORSE has a TCO2 concentration of more than 36 mmol/L, a second blood SPECIMEN “the second test” will be collected, a minimum of 10 minutes after the first test.
4. If the TCO2 concentration of the second blood SPECIMEN is more than 38 mmol/L, the STEWARDS shall withdraw the HORSE from the RACE and detain the HORSE for additional SPECIMEN collection.
5. Under these circumstances, a third blood SPECIMEN will be collected a minimum of 30 minutes after the second test.
6. The STEWARD/S may, at their sole discretion, instruct a SPECIMEN COLLECTOR to subsequently collect further SPECIMENS from the HORSE, for inter alia analytical testing of all PROHIBITED SUBSTANCES.
7. The STEWARD/S will notify the race day commentator of any HORSE which is passed to run, which underwent a second test.
As the season progresses, the NHA state that they remain committed to maintaining the highest standards of transparency and testing integrity.
These procedural enhancements will allow the NHA to increase the number of horses tested pre-race.
Additionally, TCO2 analysis will extend to out-of-competition specimens collected from stable yards, based on intelligence, to further develop the TCO2 biological passport for each horse. This passport will enable the regulator to analyze and track TCO2 levels over time for every horse tested.
They undertake to keep all stakeholders informed of any updates and reaffirm their commitment to delivering accurate and timely information on this critical aspect of their operations.
• Media release by National Horseracing Authority on Monday 30 September 2024.
Jockey Smanga Khumalo – in recovery
Credit: Candiese Lenferna
GET WELL SOON BLING!
Former SA Champion jockey Smanga ‘Bling’ Khumalo was discharged from hospital last Thursday, following knee surgery.
He was injured in an accident at the start of a race at Turffontein last Saturday.
Khumalo was dislodged from Inspector James as the start of the third race was affected.
The Johan Janse van Vuuren-trained What
A Winter gelding took an awkward stride and stumbled leaving the stalls.
‘Bling’ was attended to by course paramedics and transported to the medical
centre for further observation, and thereafter to hospital.
His agent Monty Mariemuthoo told the Sporting Post that the senior jockey had suffered bruising to his neck and back and was in a lot of pain.
He was operated on his right knee for a torn ligament on Wednesday. The operation was reportedly a success and he was discharged with strict rest instructions.
He is due back at the specialist on 10 October and is expected to undergo rehabilitation thereafter.
It is likely that the popular rider will be on the sidelines for some time, but more specific information should be available one he has undergone the follow-up.
You can wish ‘Bling’ on X – @dancewithkhumal
THE THUNDER ROLLS
The newest addition to the impressive Ridgemont stallion roster, dual Grade 1 winning Equus champion sprinter Thunderstruck has already covered 40 mares and is proving a true professional in the lush paddocks of the magnificent Robertson farm.
“Some stallions inevitably take more time than others to find their feet. But Thunderstruck has let down beautifully and is the consummate professional. It’s hardly surprising that he is proving very popular. He ticks all the boxes and we are very excited about his prospects, “ said Ridgemont’s Craig Carey of the third member of the Redoute’s Choice clan to stand at the historical Robertson nursery.
Thunderstruck’s champion Dad Rafeef, a fellow Highveld Champion Sprinter and Gr1 Computaform Sprint winner, is by the revered former Arrowfield champion, whilst speed demon barnmate Real Gone Kid is by his champion son Snitzel.
This concentration of Redoute’s Choice blood immediately brings to suggests that ‘you can never have enough of a good thing!’ Yet it is nothing new, considering that the worldfamous Coolmore Stud have made it practice to simultaneously stand a number of sons of breed-shaping stallions – the prime examples being Northern Dancer, his son Sadler’s Wells, and grandson Galileo.
A tough, sound and ultra-consistent speed star who thrived under the guidance of champion conditioner Sean Tarry, the now 5yo won graded stakes races in all of Cape Town, Durban and Johannesburg.
Thunderstruck’s wide spectrum of appeal will lie in the fact that he is a third-generation winner of the Computaform Sprint, given that he is by 2017 winner Rafeef, whose own dam National Colour dominated the Turffontein dash in 2006.
The handsome athlete was also Rafeef’s second Computaform Sprint winner, his
grey son Master Archie having preceded Thunderstruck in 2022.
Bred on a proven sprinting cross out of a VAR mare, Thunderstruck was that rare breed of precocious juvenile who trained on over three illustrious seasons to retire with 8 wins from 1000m to 1200m and a rating of 128.
Speed, rather than stamina, is very much a feature of Thunderstruck’s female line. His dam Varikate beat the boys in the Gr2 Post Merchants – and it doesn’t stop there! Grandam Katies Star won six races, and is by Kings Cup winner Modern Day, a son of the lightning fast Dayjur, while the next dam, stakes placed Five Star Suite, is out of Irish import Royal Suite, a daughter of the excellent sprinter Habitat.
The standout name in Thunderstruck’s extended family is that of Champion American 2yo Honest Pleasure, who racked up six Gr1 victories in a star-studded career.
Precocity, heart, courage, class and speed were Thunderstruck’s trademarks on the track and his offspring are sure to be lightning fast out of the blocks.
Champion breeder Mrs Mary Slack, who raced Thunderstruck, has retained a substantial share in his stallion career. His mare support has been quality!
Thunderstruck’s first season service fee is set at R20 000 live foal.
Click on the image below for more information.
M SA STAR FILLY – THE WORLD IS HER OYSTER
auritzfontein have reported on their social media that star unbeaten Gimmethegreenlight filly Gimme A Nother has arrived in France en route to the USA.
The Instagram post from Mauritzfontein reads: “Gimme A Nother has arrived safely in France. My sincerest gratitude to JJ and Candice and their transport teams as well as everyone in the Cape Quarantine who took such good care of our girl. Dr. Charles, you are my hero! Gimme A Nother will spend the next two months in France, with the hopes that she will then join the Graham Motion stable in the USA .”
Graham Motion trained Isivunguvungu (What A Winter) to win the Da Hoss Stakes recently and the speed star will be aimed at the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint, whilst Beach Bomb (Lancaster Bomber) placed second on her debut.
South African-breds have excelled since landing in America –Feather Boa (like Gimme A Nother, also bred by Wilgerbosdrift and Mauritzfontein) finished third on her recent US debut, after coming from last some 22 lengths off the leaders. She now races for Team Valor International, who have been stalwart supporters of purchasing South African fillies and racing them with outstanding success in South Africa and America.
Feather Boa showed an amazing turn of foot to finish less than a length off the winner, running over a distance that was not considered her ideal and preferably wanting further. Her trainer Todd Pletcher was elated with her performance over the sprint distance and described her as ‘some powerhouse!’
Princess Calla (another by Flower Alley) is rumoured to be putting in good work and her name, along with Isivunguvungu can be spotted on the Breeders’ Cup website.
Graham Motion has trained SAF-breds to Gr1 victory previously, with the Rathmor bred Gypsy’s Warning (Mogok) winning the Gr1 Matriarch Stakes.
Off to take on the world – champion Gimme A Nother has landed in France | Credit: Candiese Lenferna
O’BRIEN STAR SET FOR STUD DUTIES
He will take his bow at the Japan Cup on 24 November following a truly exceptional career that has seen Gr1 glory at 2, 3 and 4 years.
“Auguste Rodin is an exceptional racehorse and stallion prospect with the blend of class, speed and pedigree that only the best possess. He is a very special horse for us, and I truly believe he ranks up there with the best middledistance racehorses and sires that we have stood here before him like Sadler’s Wells, Galileo, Montjeu, Caerleon and Camelot. Physically he fills the eye so well as he has
extra quality and movement so I can’t wait to see his first crop in Ballydoyle in 2028. We are going to do all we can to give him the best possible opportunity to follow in his illustrious predecessor’s footsteps,” commented Coolmore’s MV Magnier.
Trained by Aidan O’Brien, the classy and precocious Auguste Rodin, earned TDN Rising Star status when winning his maiden as a 2-year-old at Naas, before taking the Gr.2 Champions Juvenile at Leopardstown and the prestigious Gr.1 Futurity Trophy at Doncaster.
Coolmore has announced that 6-time Group 1 winner and dual Derby hero Auguste Rodin, will take up stud duties for the 2025 season their base in Ireland.
Auguste Rodin and Ryan Moore | Credit: Ballydoyle Racing
His 3-year-old campaign was nothing short of spectacular, highlighted by his victories in the Epsom Derby, Irish Derby, Irish Champion Stakes and Breeders’ Cup Turf, which marked his fourth Gr1 of the season – an extraordinary achievement that hallmarked his talent and versatility.
This year, as a 4-year-old, he added the Gr.1 Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot to an already glittering CV.
By the Japanese Triple Crown winner and 11time Champion Sire sensation, Deep Impact, Auguste Rodin boasts five multiple-champion sires in his first three generations, along with three standout race-mares, who were all Gr1 performers at less than a mile.
He is the first foal out of Rhododendron, a triple Gr1 winner by Galileo and full-sister to seven-time Gr.1 winner and Champion Magical. Both mares are out of three-time Gr1 and 1,000 Guineas winner Halfway To Heaven.
Reflecting on Auguste Rodin’s remarkable achievements, jockey Ryan Moore said, “He’s been an unbelievable horse for us. We have always thought the world of him. He has everything you’d want. He has so much pace. He could kill horses for speed, and he was able to stretch that out over 12 furlongs. Horses like him are so hard to find. An incredible horse.”
Echoing the sentiments of Moore, trainer
Aidan O’ Brien added “Auguste Rodin is out of Rhododendron, one of the best Galileo mares, and by Deep Impact, Japan’s best stallion. He connects two of the most powerful breeding lines in the world. He has been a pleasure and a privilege to train. He is just a very unique horse and we’re very excited to see what he will achieve at stud. We will be supporting him with our own mares.”
Auguste Rodin’s career will be remembered for his speed, class, resilience and dominance on the track, with earnings of almost €6 million.
Dylan Cunha – going places! | Credit: Supplied
CUNHA UPS HIS ARSENAL WITH BIG WIN
It’s not just South African horses which are grabbing the imagination on the international stage.
Former airline pilot and Gr1-winning trainer Dylan Cunha joined in the fray when he celebrated his biggest winner on British soil with bargain buy Prague in Friday’s Gr2 Joel Stakes at Newmarket.
Allowed to stride on before halfway, the Galileo colt dictated his own tempo and continued to pour it on in the closing stages, ultimately scoring by the best part of four lengths.
The soft underfoot conditions saw only four line up for the mile contest, which incidentally, was won in imperious fashion by Mike de Kock’s champion Soft Falling Rain in 2023.
Prague is a bit of a fairytale horse, given that Cunha sourced the colt for buttons at the Tattersalls Autumn Horses In Training sale 11 month ago, paying a mere ten grand for the then unraced three-year-old from the Ballydoyle draft.
Cunha commented post-race: “He had suffered a leg fracture but we’ve never missed a day with him. He’s still a big baby, that’s the exciting thing. When he finally matures, he’ll be a really nice horse.”
The colt made an auspicious start to his career when scoring by four lengths on debut at Sandown in June, then finished fourth in the Listed Gala Stakes at the same track.
He reaffirmed his talent earlier this month when runner-up in the Gr3 Superior Mile Stakes at Haydock.
This landmark victory adds to the burgeoning reputation of his trainer, who took out his British licence in 2022 and is based at the Phantom House Stables in Newmarket.
The highlight of Cunha’s South African training career came in the 2007 Gr1 Summer Cup, where he saddled Australian-bred Strategic News to a 2.75 length victory.
In Prague, he may well have a horse capable of holding his own at a similar level.
2024 Lexus Melbourne Cup is on the cards for 05 November – be sure to save the date | Credit: Lexus
72 CONTENDERS
– 2300M - A$8,56 MILLION!
Just one month out from the first Tuesday in November, the Victoria Racing Club has announced that 72 horses remain in contention for the 2024 A$8,56 million Lexus Gr1 Melbourne Cup.
A total of 66 local and 6 internationals horses remain in the running after first acceptances were taken on Tuesday 1 October for the 164th running of Australia’s greatest race.
The full list of first declarations for the 2024 Lexus Melbourne Cup can be found by clicking here.
The announcement comes days after the arrival of the first shipment of internationals including Onesmoothoperator for Brian Ellison and Sea King for Harry Eustace, trainer and brother to Lexus Melbourne Cup-winning trainer David Eustace.
Gai Waterhouse AO and Adrian Bott still have five chances in the Lexus Melbourne Cup including import Eliyass, who remains unbeaten since arriving in Australia and will race in this weekend’s feature race, the Gr1 A$750,000 TAB Turnbull Stakes at Flemington.
This Saturday’s TAB Turnbull Stakes Day at Flemington acts as a springboard for the big three Melbourne majors including the Lexus Melbourne Cup.
The race day has traditionally been a strong preview to the Melbourne Cup Carnival with six
of the last eight locally trained Lexus Melbourne Cup winners competing on this race day in the past.
Point King for Sam and Anthony Freedman secured his spot in the race that stops a nation® after winning the Lexus Archer Stakes (2500m) on Crown Makybe Diva Stakes Day.
New Zealand trainers feature strongly in the first acceptances and include Auckland Cup winner Mahrajaan for Cambridge trainers Shaun Ritchie and Colm Murray and reigning New Zealand Horse of the Year, Sharp ‘N’ Smart for Graeme and Deborah Rogerson.
Further opportunities for horses and connections to receive ballot exemption at Flemington include the Gr3 Lexus Bart Cummings (2500m) on Saturday. Outside of Flemington, the Gr1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) and Gr1 Cox Plate (2040m) offer ballot exemption.
VRC Executive General Manager Racing Leigh Jordon said the first acceptances were strong.
“There is a strong group of 72 local and international contenders hoping to achieve the ultimate success in this year’s Lexus Melbourne Cup,” Jordon said.
“This weekend’s race day will be a great form reference for those horses who are racing towards the first Tuesday in November with the day a proven path for trainers and connections.”
The 2024 Melbourne Cup Carnival begins with Penfolds Victoria Derby Day on Saturday 2 November, followed by Lexus Melbourne Cup Day on Tuesday 5 November, Crown Oaks Day on Thursday 7 November and TAB Champions Stakes Day on Saturday 9 November.
Click here for more information and to purchase tickets.
All the action can be seen live and free across the Nine Network, the official broadcast partner and new home of the Melbourne Cup Carnival.
• Final/Fourth Declarations - 16h30, Saturday 2 November
JACK AND GOLDI FOR HALL OF FAME
Two of Europe’s racing stars, Yorkshire-born trainer and unceasing devotee to improving welfare Jack Berry, and the outstanding 14-times Group 1 winner Goldikova, are to be inducted into the QIPCO British Champions Series Hall of Fame, the official Hall of Fame for British Flat racing.
Both inductees, together with the Hall of Fame’s public vote winner Dubai Millennium, will be recognised with a special presentation moment on QIPCO British Champions Day at Ascot on Saturday 19 October.
Jack Berry MBE has been racing’s greatest fundraiser and is just the third person to be recognised within the Special Contributor
category, following closely in the footsteps of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Khalid Abdullah.
Jack has been a pioneer for the Injured Jockeys’ Fund (IJF) since it was founded 60 years ago, and it was his vision that led to Oaksey House, in Lambourn, Berkshire, and Jack Berry House, in Malton, Yorkshire, being established in 2009 and 2015 respectively.
These outstanding rehabilitation and fitness centres have benefited countless jockeys, providing specialist treatment for physical and neurological injuries, plus respite accommodation for those receiving extended treatment together with their carers if required. They have hydrotherapy pools and state-ofthe-art gyms and offer educational courses on fitness and nutrition. Peter O’Sullevan House in Newmarket (2019) and The Taunton South West Hub (2022) have also followed.
Berry, almost 87, remains the IJF’s vicepresident and has raised incalculable amounts of money with his initiatives, energy and powers of persuasion. He was deservingly awarded an MBE in 1996 for charitable services and for services to horseracing.
Berry commented, “To be inducted into the Hall of Fame is a huge honour. I always knew I wanted to be a jockey from when I was five years old and now, at almost 87, to be added to such a list of horses and humans who have had such an impact on the sport is truly humbling.
“I’m certainly in good company; to even be mentioned in the same breath as Prince Khalid Abdullah, Sir Henry Cecil, The Queen and my old pal Lester Piggott, is some achievement and I couldn’t be prouder. I am very much looking forward to being at Ascot for QIPCO British Champions Day next month.”
Goldikova was a record-breaking mare who sprinkled her magic all over the world. Owned and bred by the Wertheimer brothers, Alain
and Gérard, her exploits included winning a European record of 14 Group 1 races between 2008 and 2011.
Trained throughout her career by Freddy Head, in Chantilly, she will always be remembered for winning the Breeders’ Cup Mile three years in succession – the only horse to win the same race three times at America’s biggest meeting – but she also dazzled in her native country, France, as well as England.
For instance, she was a stunning six-length winner of the Prix Jacques Le Marois at Deauville in 2009 and her first two visits to British shores yielded victories in the Falmouth Stakes and Queen Anne at Royal Ascot. These days, both races form part of QIPCO British Champions Series.
By the end of her career, she had won 17 races and finished either second or third on another nine occasions. She had a tremendous constitution and was out of the frame just once, when making her seasonal reappearance at Longchamp in 2009.
Her owners, the Wertheimer brothers, via their Wertheimer & Frère Partnership, commented, “We are very touched and honored by the upcoming induction of our champion Goldikova into the Hall of Fame and this mark of distinction reflects the value of her career.
“Winner of 17 races including 14 Group 1s, she is the only one who has managed to win the Breeders Cup three times in a row. She also won two main English races on the mile in the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot and the Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket and, of course, a legendary Jacques Le Marois in the summer 2009 at Deauville.
“Having her statue at our farm in France, a permanent photo at the main entrance of
Deauville’s racetrack, an induction to the American Hall of Fame few years ago and now, the valuable one at the English Hall of Fame represent a lot to us, our team and all those involved in what she achieved.”
Rod Street, CEO of British Champions Series commented, “Along with Aidan O’Brien, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame at the QIPCO Guineas Festival earlier this year, the three further inductees into the Hall of Fame this year represent some of the finest qualities to be found in horses and people. Dubai Millennium, winner of the public vote for the Turn of the Century horse, was superb on the track and, despite a stud career that was tragically short, has stamped his mark on the breed as sire of Dubawi.
“The brilliant mare Goldikova showed such durability in winning 14 Group 1s – among them three consecutive victories in the Breeders’ Cup Mile, as well as her wins in the UK at Ascot and Newmarket. And Jack Berry’s contribution to our sport, as a trainer but even more significantly as one of the instigators of the Injured Jockeys’ Fund, for which his fundraising efforts have been nothing short of staggering, must be one of the greatest of the past century. I am very much looking forward to their inaugurations on QIPCO British Champions Day.”
“Lance was a completely different class. He was as good a 3yo as anything else that I’ve trained at a similar stage in his career.” Sean Tarry, Multiple Champion Trainer
Stakes winning son of multiple champion Jet Master
Damline has produced multiple group winners
Powerful family of champions - Big Swinger, Duc Du Orleans, Rebel King
50% winners to runners
Covered 25 mares last season - limited opportunity prior to that
Excellent fertility
r 5.000 live foal
GLOBETROTTING SON OF DUBAWI RETIRES
Globetrotting star Lord North has been retired from racing at the age of eight after a lucrative career which yielded more than £6.4 million in prize-money and ten wins, including four at Group 1 level.
John Gosden hailed Lord North as a horse who had ‘a lot of character’, as the son of Dubawi ends his racing career best known for three consecutive victories in the Dubai Turf on World Cup night at Meydan.
The Racing Post reports that Lord North was last seen at Royal Ascot in June when eighth behind Auguste Rodin in the Group 1 Prince of Wales’s Stakes, a race in which he made his Group 1 breakthrough in 2020.
Gosden, who trained Lord North with son Thady since the start of 2022, said: “Lord North has been retired to join Godolphin Rehoming after an illustrious career. He retires a sound horse, but the years have caught up with him.
“His record speaks for itself having won the Cambridgeshire as a three-year-old in 2019 before winning the first of his four Group 1s in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot the following year.
Lord North has retired | Credit: Chase Liebenberg
“He then landed the first of his remarkable three consecutive wins in the Group 1 Dubai Turf at Meydan in 2021 through to 2023 and managed to win over £6.4m in win and place prize-money in a career that spanned seven seasons.”
Owned by Sheikh Zayed bin Mohammed Racing, Lord North won ten of his 24 starts in a career that began with victory under Robert Havlin in a mile novice at Redcar in October 2018.
In 2020, Lord North achieved a career-high rating of 124 when winning at Royal Ascot from Addeybb, subsequently a multiple winner at the highest level. Later that year he made his sole appearance at the Breeders’ Cup, finishing fourth in the Turf.
The following March, Lord North registered the first of his three wins under Frankie Dettori in the $5m Dubai Turf when overcoming Vin De Garde before returning 12 months later to
dead-heat with Panthalassa.
The hat-trick was completed when the pair overcame Danon Beluga last year and he was far from disgraced when finishing eighth in a bid to win it for a fourth time in March.
Lord North was a popular attraction at the Henry Cecil Open Weekend on Sunday when the Gosden yard was one of 24 stables to open their doors.
Gosden added: “He’s been a pleasure to train over the years and he’s a horse who has always had a lot of character. He’s provided his groom and rider Aldir Centuriao as well as head man PJ O’Gorman with a lot of pleasure over the years and they will be sad to see him go, as will all of us at Clarehaven Stables.
“He retires to a great location at Godolphin Rehoming at Wood Ditton, which he knows well having spent two holidays there already.”
• www.racingpost.com
THE COUNTESS ASCENDS TO 111
Gimmie’s Countess has had her rating increased from 105 to 111 following her impressive win in the Baker McVeigh Gr3 Diana Stakes over 1400m at Hollywoodbets Durbanville on Saturday.
The Handicappers unanimously agreed that the ever consistent and third placed, Princess Izzy, made for the most suitable line horse to rate this race, and leaves her rating unchanged on 99.
In rating the race this way, fourth placed, Gold Poker Game also runs to her mark of 107 effectively making her a line horse as well.
The specific conditions of this race do not allow for an increase of more than 4 points for placed runners and as such, second placed, Summer Lily received a partial increase to her rating, from 92 to 96, despite achieving a higher mark.
Unconquerable Lady was the only runner in this race to receive a ratings drop, and she goes down to 94 from 96.
Kuda Gr3 Matchem Stakes
Questioning has seen his rating adjusted to 124 from 122 after winning the Kuda Gr3 Matchem Stakes over 1400m at Hollywoodbets Durbanville on Saturday.
Third placed, At My Command, was deemed to be the most suitable key horse to rate this race and as such his rating remains unaltered on 119.
Owing to the specific conditions of this race, that do not allow for an increase of more than 4 points for placed runners, second placed Montien could only be adjusted to 120 from 116 even though he ran to a slightly higher mark.
No fewer than 3 runners received a ratings relief following this contest.
Fifth placed Zapatillas was dropped to 119 from 123, while seventh placed Zil Moris was reduced to 100 from 102. Lastly, Look For Hounds’ rating was dropped from 108 to 104.
• Media release by the NHA on Tuesday, 01 October 2024.
BEAUTY WAVES CONTINUES IMPRESSIVE RISE
Beauty Waves continued an impressive rise through Hong Kong’s sprint ranks with victory in the HK$4.2 million Gr3 National Day Cup Handicap at Sha Tin on Tuesday as Pierre Ng and Alexis Badel combined successfully with the former Irish speedster.
Beaten last start by highly-rated Ka Ying Rising, Beauty Waves took his record since joining Ng’s stable to four wins, two seconds and a third from seven starts, while Badel posted his second victory in the National Day Cup after previously winning it on Super Wealthy.
Settling fifth behind pace-setter Nervous Witness, Beauty Waves forged stylishly into contention as Badel allowed the Starspangledbanner gelding to build
momentum before striking the lead 150 metres from the line to down Magic Control by half a length.
Whizz Kid was third, a further three quarters of a length away in 55.72s.
Last year’s winner Stoltz was scratched on veterinary grounds before the race, while Gr1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize winner Invincible Sage finished sixth, four lengths behind Beauty Waves.
Alexis Badel drives Beauty Waves clear |
Credit: HKJC
Ng indicated his planning with Beauty Waves would be dictated by how high the 93-rater rises in the handicap following Tuesday’s triumph.
“He improves every race for me. Last time we were running against a very good horse (Ka Ying Rising) and he still ran second. He did everything well today,” Ng said. “We’ll see how many points he’s going to be put up.”
Badel said: “I was confident. He’s a good horse, he only got beaten last time by a very special horse. Coming back to a shorter trip didn’t worry me. He’s got class and he’s got speed. He began very well, and I didn’t want to face the breeze the whole way. I was just trying to rate him as good as possible and his class with the light weight (115lb) made the difference.”
With eight winners for the season, Ng maintained his lead at the top of the trainers’ championship over Danny Shum, Caspar Fownes and Mark Newnham – all with seven wins – when Drombeg Banner claimed the Class 2 Beijing Handicap under Andrea Atzeni.
Hugh Bowman made a successful return from illness with a double. The Australian sprang into action atop The Khan for Fownes in the Class 5 Shenyang Handicap after being sidelined for Saturday’s Sha Tin meeting and missing the winning rides on Daily Trophy and Rubylot.
“I wouldn’t say I’m all over the illness, but my balance is back so that is the main thing,” Bowman said before piloting David Hall-trained Geneva to victory in the first section of the Class 4 Chongqing Handicap.
Dennis Yip snared a double with Great Spirit, who won the first section of the Class 4 Chongqing Handicap under Matthew Poon and View Of The World, winner of the Class 4 Chengdu Handicap for Zac Purton.
“He’s a nice horse. Last season he had two races and finished very well,” Yip said of View Of The World. “I know he can stay 1400m and I spoke to Zac after his Happy Valley trial and he said he would be fine. I decided to run over 1400m so Zac could ride for me.
“Later on, he might be able to go to a mile, he’s a very honest horse. We’ll stay at 1400m for now and let him mature for one or two races.”
Purton secured a double when Shum’s Packing Power maintained his unbeaten record after three starts with a strong win in the Class 3 Shanghai Handicap.
“He’s getting more switched on with his race craft every start, which is good,” Purton said. “It was nice that we were to get across in the manner that we did, but what I liked the most was the way he relaxed during the mid-stages of the race – he was off the bit, just cruising along waiting for the signal.
“It’s a good sign. So, he’ll give himself a chance to run a mile when he needs to. We’ll take our time.”
Michael Chang and Jerry Chau combined with Commanding Missile to land the Class 5 Nanning Handicap before Newnham teamed with Lyle Hewitson to win the Class 4 Jinan Handicap with Happy Hero.
“He’s been a really good horse for the stable. He was our first winner in Hong Kong and now he’s got four wins and he’s graduated out of Class 5. He’s still improving,” Newnham said.
“He had a nice light weight (118lb) and had the benefit of having had a race already this season. Once he got in the clear he really let down strongly.
“I love him to bits because he’s a really genuine horse. When he arrived, he had 10 starts and hadn’t run closer than eighth but I wasn’t in
a position to be fussy. He really hasn’t put a foot wrong and he’s a really solid, durable and tough horse.”
Brazen Beau gelding Winning Gold made it three wins in a row after steaming home under Keagan De Melo to land the Class 3 Tianjin Handicap and shapes as a possible Four-YearOld Classic Series contender for trainer Chris So.
Hong Kong racing continues at Sha Tin on Sunday, 06 October 2024
Pierre Ng will take a conservative approach with Beauty Waves| Credit: HKJC
LUGAL WINS SPRINTERS STAKES
NO JOY FOR HONG KONG CHALLENGERS
The 58th running of the Gr1 Sprinters Stakes at Nayakama Racecourse in Japan on Sunday produced the quickest renewal since 2012.
The 1200m contest heralded the muchanticipated return of JRA Grade 1 action in Chiba Prefecture, just a short distance outside of Tokyo. The race is one of just two top-level sprints on the JRA calendar.
Lugal won for jockey Atsuya Nishimura and trainer Haruki Sugiyama. The Duramente colt was 10th in a rain affected Gr1
Takamatsunomiya Kinen last March.
“I’m so happy, I’m so thrilled to be able to win a Group 1 race for the first time. I’m happy for Lugal as well because it’s his first Group 1 win as well. I don’t remember anything in the straight,” Nishimura said.
The winning time was 1m 07s, the fastest run edition since Lord Kanaloa in 2012 (1m 06.70s).
Lugal storms home under Atsuya Nishimura | Credit: HKJC
Toshin Macau finished second by a neck under Akira Sugawara for trainer Mizuki Takayanagi, while Namura Clair flashed into yet another Group 1 placing for jockey Takeshi Yokoyama and trainer Kodai Hasegawa.
Sugiyama mentioned post-race that he is open to campaigning Lugal overseas.
This was Lugal’s first Gr1 title in his comeback race after being side-lined for half a year due to a fracture.
Debuting as a two-year-old in November, the Duramente colt broke his maiden in his fourth career start in January of his three-year-old season.
Though winless during that season after winning the Tachibana Stakes (Listed, 1,400m) in May, he marked two runner-up efforts in the Aoi Stakes (Gr3, 1,200m) and the Keihan Hai (Gr3, 1,200m).
He captured his first graded title in his fouryear-old kick-off start, the Silk Road Stakes (Gr3, 1,200m), but was 10th in the following Takamatsunomiya Kinen (Gr1, 1,200m), after which the colt was found to have a fracture in his left foreleg.
Trainer Haruki Sugiyama marked his sixth JRA-G1 title following his Tenno Sho (Spring) victory with Justin Palace last year, and jockey Atsuya Nishimura captured his ninth graded win and first Gr1 title in his seventh year of riding.
Hong Kong representatives Victor The Winner and Mugen will return from Japan to target the HK$26 million Gr1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint on 8 December at Sha Tin after the pair were unplaced in Sunday’s feature.
Beaten for speed early after breaking from a
tricky barrier 14, Victor The Winner and jockey Joao Moreira positioned fourth in running as Puro Magic burst to the front, stringing the field out and holding a near-four length advantage at the top of the home straight. Puro Magic covered the opening 600m of the race in 32.1s.
Trainer of Victor The Winner, Danny Shum, said: “I thought he ran a reasonable race, not a sensational race. It was a really fast pace and Joao Moreira kept him in fourth spot, where he had every chance.
“He’s not really used to the fast pace, but he didn’t give up – he kept trying. The JRA (Japan Racing Association) have told me the owner gets 680,000 Hong Kong dollars for finishing sixth.”
Shum will now point Victor The Winner towards the LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint, expecting to run first-up in the December showpiece instead of contesting the HK$5.35 million Gr2 BOCHK Private Banking Jockey Club Sprint on 17 November.
“It’s experience. Our target now is December –the Hong Kong Sprint. I don’t think we’ll run in the Group 2, straight to the Hong Kong Sprint. Hopefully Joao Moreira can come, he says he would like to come again for this horse,” Shum said.
“He tried very hard. It’s not easy to come over, but he tried very hard. It’s too fast for him, he ran a reasonable race. I’m not disappointed and I’m not happy – little bit in the middle.”
Contesting just his second Group 1 race and first outside of Hong Kong, Mugen trailed Victor The Winner in 13th under Karis Teetan for trainer Pierre Ng.
“He was quite nervous behind the gates and he was sweating up. It’s his first race this season,
he’ll learn from that and learn to travel. He didn’t like the track today as Karis said with the kickback,” Ng said. “We’ll see how he recovers from here, but we’ll run him in November.” Mugen was first-up since last June, when he won the HK$4.2 million Gr3 Premier Cup Handicap at Sha Tin.
“He just didn’t seem to travel like he usually does, he thought he was following Damian (Lane on Satono Reve) and he could take him in the straight, but he didn’t like the ground at all. It was quite a challenge, we probably think this is a leader’s track today,” Ng said.
